It will be colorful and loud – but has a serious background: the participants want to demonstrate for their rights in one of the largest CSD parades in Europe.
Hundreds of thousands of spectators are expected to attend the CSD demonstration in Cologne on Sunday (11:30 a.m.). After two years with severe corona restrictions, the Christopher Street Day parade can move through the city center again in its usual form for the first time.
According to the organizers, around 170 foot groups and floats will take part. The Prime Minister of North Rhine-Westphalia, Hendrik Wüst (CDU), will speak at the opening. The police are in action with a large contingent.
The Cologne CSD is one of the largest events for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) community in Europe. The parade is the highlight of a three-day CSD weekend in Cologne, to which a total of around 1.5 million people were expected.
A spokesman for the organizers emphasized that the demonstration should not only be a fun and colorful spectacle, but also draw attention to the rights of the community and disadvantages. There is still homophobia and hostility in Germany.
According to a spokeswoman, the police are particularly sensitive to the Oslo attack. However, there are no indications of a specific risk situation. Also in view of the expected number of visitors, numerous riot police are on duty. In Oslo, an attacker fired shots around a popular gay bar last weekend, killing two people.
